(1) The report was sharply critical of the police.
(2) ‘Is there a problem? ’ he asked sharply.
(3) Profits fell sharply following the takeover.

(1) There's someone at the door.
(2) someone's left their bag behind.
(3) It's time for someone new (= a new person) to take over.

(1) the spring/fall semester
(2) By the end of the semester, I will not fear math.
(3) We are trying to pull through the toughest time of the semester.

(1) An accident can happen anywhere.
(2) I don't have anywhere to stay.
(3) Do you know anywhere I can buy a second-hand computer?

(1) nuclear missiles
(2) a missile base/site
(3) The authorities offered to stop firing missiles if the rebels agreed to stop attacking civilian targets.

(1) Cracks of light filtered through the shutters...
(2) Light and water in embassy buildings were cut off...
(3) The janitor comes round to turn the lights out...

(1) They've docked 15% off my pay for this week.
(2) dock workers
(3) The ship was in dock .

(1) They brought the children to Jesus and he blessed them.
(2) God bless you!
(3) The priest blessed the bread and wine.

(1) I have a bad memory for names.
(2) People have short memories (= they soon forget) .
(3) He had a long memory for people who had disappointed him.

(1) the absence of any women on the board of directors
(2) The decision was made in my absence (= while I was not there) .
(3) We did not receive any news during his long absence.

(1) We sat down in the shade of the wall.
(2) The temperature can reach 40˚C in the shade .
(3) The trees provide shade for the animals in the summer.

(1) to obtain advice/information/permission
(2) I finally managed to obtain a copy of the report.
(3) To obtain the overall score, add up the totals in each column.

(1) ‘I'm feeling really depressed. ’ ‘The winter here has that effect sometimes. ’
(2) I tried to persuade him, but with little or no effect.
(3) I can certainly feel the effects of too many late nights.

(1) how does it work?
(2) Suppose we meet somewhere for a drink? I'll pay. how's that?
(3) 'The fuel gauge is broken.' — 'Broken? how do you mean?'

(1) I'm afraid this essay is a poor effort.
(2) the United Nations' peacekeeping effort
(3) The local clubs are making every effort to interest more young people.

(1) The invention would have wide application/a wide range of applications in industry.
(2) lotion for external application only (= to be put on the skin, not swallowed)
(3) It took three applications of paint to cover the graffiti.

(1) the daily rotation of the earth on its axis
(2) This switch controls the number of rotations per minute.
(3) crop rotation/the rotation of crops (= changing the crop that is grown on an area of land in order to protect the soil)

(1) Here the river is confined in a narrow channel.
(2) The soldiers concerned were confined to barracks (= had to stay in the barracks , as a punishment)
(3) She was confined to bed with the flu.

(1) done with mathematical precision
(2) Historians can't estimate the date with any (degree of) precision .
(3) He chose his words with precision .

(1) reed beds (= where they grow)
(2) Mrs reed smacked my face left me without a word.
(3) It works through magnet and magnetic reed switch , so as to detect unauthorized access.

(1) memories tinged with sadness
(2) I felt a deep sadness.
(3) our joys and sadnesses

(1) a brief résumé of events so far
(2) to resume talks/negotiations
(3) She resumed her career after an interval of six years.

(1) What difference will it make if he knows or not?
(2) I don't think it makes a lot of difference what colour it is (= it is not important) .
(3) ‘Shall we go on Friday or Saturday? ’ ‘It makes no difference (to me). ’

(1) subsequent generations
(2) subsequent events confirmed our doubts.
(3) Developments on this issue will be dealt with in a subsequent report.

(1) [不可数名词]to be sentenced to life imprisonment for murder
(2) (figurative)Some young mothers feel imprisoned in their own homes.
(3) They were imprisoned for possession of drugs.

(1) a field mushroom (= the most common type that is eaten, often just called a ‘mushroom ’, and often grown to be sold)
(2) fried mushrooms
(3) cream of mushroom soup

(1) a very fine performance
(2) fine clothes/wines/workmanship
(3) a particularly fine example of Saxon architecture

(1) He slung the bag over his shoulder.
(2) She tapped him on the shoulder.
(3) He looked back over his shoulder.

(1) People were craning out of the windows and waving.
(2) She craned her neck to get a better view of the stage.
(3) The little prefabricated hut was lifted away by a huge crane.

(1) Salary is proportional to years of experience.
(2) to be directly/inversely proportional to sth
(3) Families with children spend proportionally less per person than families without children.

(1) Give Mary a call; she needs cheering up.
(2) Bright curtains can cheer up a dull room.
(3) Oh, come on─cheer up!

(1) to submit/consider/accept/reject a proposal
(2) a proposal to build more office accommodation
(3) His proposal that the system should be changed was rejected.

(1) a law prohibiting the sale of alcohol
(2) Soviet citizens were prohibited from travelling abroad.
(3) The high cost of equipment prohibits many people from taking up this sport.

(1) I was somewhat surprised to see him.
(2) The situation has changed somewhat since we last met.
(3) What happened to them remains somewhat of a mystery.

(1) She seemed a trifle anxious.
(2) $1 000 is a mere trifle to her.
(3) He is not a person to be trifled with.

(1) He prefaced the diaries with a short account of how they were discovered.
(2) I must preface my remarks with an apology.
(3) I will preface what I am going to say with a few lines from Shakespeare...

(1) a pile of clean/dirty laundry
(2) a laundry basket/room
(3) to do the laundry

(1) a joint account (= a bank account in the name of more than one person, for example a husband and wife)
(2) The report was a joint effort (= we worked on it together) .
(3) They finished in joint first place.

(1) an upward gaze
(2) an upward movement in property prices
(3) She started once again on the steep upward climb...

(1) a violent/short/quick, etc. temper
(2) He must learn to control his temper .
(3) She broke the plates in a fit of temper .